Hearing this a lot lately- praying for His grace to walk it out October 3, 2014

Between wonderful advice from good friends, words I have received from others, messages I’ve listened to and, YES- even movies I’ve watched, the message I am hearing a lot lately is that God loves you the way He created you. He loves you being YOU. He doesn’t want you to compare yourself to others- He simply wants to you to love Him, spend time getting to know him, and in turn getting to know yourself.

One of my former pastors used to say that fellowship is like 2 fellows in a ship… it’s about spending time together. I was recently listening to a message and the speaker said, “Learn to be yourself; your anointing is fully released when you are fully yourself.”

As I have thought about this the last couple of days and I realize that at the age of 44, I am still learning who I am…

When I am asked who I am (in profiles and in meeting new friends or whatever) I tend to respond with “wife, mother, grandmother, baker, worship leader…” and while they are who I am- that is largely related to what I do.

Who am I? I am Mary Elizabeth, daughter of Bob & Melinda, wife of Evans, but even more I am a daughter of the King! I am his favorite! I am a sinner saved by grace, forgiven of my past, and part of the Bride of Christ. It is my desire to be an extension of the Father’s love, an extension of His hand in praying for people so they are delivered from bondage, healed from diseases, and restored to their Father’s heart.

I pray to be open to receive deeper revelation from the Father- as I fall deeper in love with Him.

Passion Week March 29, 2013

What a week! I am very grateful for the chance and the freedom to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus this week! It is a wonderful reminder of His love, grace and forgiveness that I grow more grateful for each and every day!
In thinking on His sacrifice, it makes the love I have for my Father grow more each day!

It brings an old hymn to mind, “There is a name I love to hear/ I love to sing it’s worth/ It sounds like music in my ears/ The sweetest name on Earth!/ Oh! How I love Jesus!/ Oh, how I love Jesus!/ Oh, how I love Jesus!/ Because He first loved me!”

Have a blessed week! May the love of our Father wash over you and help you to fall more deeply in love with Him each day!

My Father’s Love June 23, 2012

I have had a couple of trips out of town, and some family goings on, that have kept me from posting recently. I wanted to get another post on praise and worship up, which I will try to get done in the next week; however, I did share on Father’s Day morning. I felt like this was something the Lord wanted shared, so I gave my sweetie the morning off. It was a very short service that morning. =)  Here are my notes, I hope you enjoy.

 

I was doing a little looking around to see what I could find about the subject “My Father’s Love” and I ran across this letter… I just wanted to read it. I thought you might enjoy it.

My Child,



You may not know me, 
but I know everything about you. 
Psalm 139:1

I know when you sit down and when you rise up. 
Psalm 139:2

I am familiar with all your ways. 
Psalm 139:3

Even the very hairs on your head are numbered. 
Matthew 10:29-31

For you were made in my image. 
Genesis 1:27

In me you live and move and have your being.
Acts 17:28

For you are my offspring. 
Acts 17:28

I knew you even before you were conceived. 
Jeremiah 1:4-5

I chose you when I planned creation. 
Ephesians 1:11-12

You were not a mistake, 
for all your days are written in my book. 
Psalm 139:15-16

I determined the exact time of your birth 
and where you would live. 
Acts 17:26

You are fearfully and wonderfully made. 
Psalm 139:14

I knit you together in your mother’s womb. 
Psalm 139:13

And brought you forth on the day you were born. 
Psalm 71:6

I have been misrepresented 
by those who don’t know me.
John 8:41-44

I am not distant and angry, 
but am the complete expression of love. 
1 John 4:16

And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 
1 John 3:1

Simply because you are my child 
and I am your Father. 
1 John 3:1

I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. 
Matthew 7:11

For I am the perfect father. 
Matthew 5:48

Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. 
James 1:17

For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. 
Matthew 6:31-33

My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. 
Jeremiah 29:11

Because I love you with an everlasting love. 
Jeremiah 31:3

My thoughts toward you are countless 
as the sand on the seashore.
Psalms 139:17-18

And I rejoice over you with singing. 
Zephaniah 3:17

I will never stop doing good to you. 
Jeremiah 32:40

For you are my treasured possession. 
Exodus 19:5

I desire to establish you
with all my heart and all my soul. 
Jeremiah 32:41

And I want to show you great and marvelous things. 
Jeremiah 33:3

If you seek me with all your heart, 
you will find me. 
Deuteronomy 4:29

Delight in me and I will give you 
the desires of your heart. 
Psalm 37:4

For it is I who gave you those desires. 
Philippians 2:13

I am able to do more for you 
than you could possibly imagine. 
Ephesians 3:20

For I am your greatest encourager. 
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

I am also the Father who comforts you 
in all your troubles. 
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

When you are brokenhearted, 
I am close to you. 
Psalm 34:18

As a shepherd carries a lamb, 
I have carried you close to my heart. 
Isaiah 40:11

One day I will wipe away 
every tear from your eyes. 
Revelation 21:3-4

And I’ll take away all the pain 
you have suffered on this earth.
Revelation 21:3-4

I am your Father, and I love you 
even as I love my son, Jesus.
John 17:23

For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. 
John 17:26

He is the exact representation of my being. 
Hebrews 1:3

He came to demonstrate that I am for you, 
not against you. 
Romans 8:31

And to tell you that I am not counting your sins.
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 
2 Corinthians 5:18-19

His death was the ultimate expression 
of my love for you. 
1 John 4:10

I gave up everything I loved
that I might gain your love. 
Romans 8:31-32

If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, 
you receive me. 
1 John 2:23

And nothing will ever separate you 
from my love again.
Romans 8:38-39

Come home and I’ll throw the biggest party 
heaven has ever seen.
Luke 15:7

I have always been Father, 
and will always be Father.
Ephesians 3:14-15

My question is…
Will you be my child? 
John 1:12-13

I am waiting for you. 
Luke 15:11-32



 

Love, Your Dad
Almighty God

 

 

The first Bible verse that I learned, was John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”

The first songs I remember learning were “Jesus Love Me” and “Jesus Loves the Little Children”.

Romans 5:8 say that what while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.

Why? He died for us, because He loves us.

Then you start hearing or learning the scriptures that say things like

“I am fearfully and wonderfully made”

“I am acquainted with ALL your ways…”

“Your were made in the image of God”

“I knew you even before you were conceived”

One of my FAVORITES-

John 15: 16 the New King James version says “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father, in My name He may give you.”

In the Message translation it says it like this… “You didn’t choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you.”

He CHOSE me! I remember reading that the first time and thinking WOW- why would He choose me?

I mean I am still not sure of all the reasons that He chose me, accept that He loved me.

Ezekiel 16:3-14

This scripture speaks of a birth and the baby is left with the cord uncut, unwashed, not swaddled. It even said the baby was loathed. That’s pretty strong- in the Merriam-Webster online dictionary it says that “loathe” means “to dislike greatly and often with disgust or intolerance: detest”. But then God walked by and saw the baby…

Verse 6 says “when I passed by you and saw you… I said to you…”LIVE”!

God saw us in our mess- and he pitied us, HE LOVED US!

Not only did He see us in our mess, He washed us and loved us… it also says that he made us to thrive. It describes what he clothed the child in, and adorned the child with… He gives them the finest of clothes and gold, silver and a beautiful crown for their head!

He is again explaining how he takes wonderful care of us, and provides all we need.

How comforting?

Then I read Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

That is one promise that has gotten me through a few tough times.

In the Message translation it says it like this, “I know what I’m doing. I have it all planned out- plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.”

Okay-

1-        He knows what He’s doing… well that’s pretty self-explanatory. Sometimes, perplexing, because it doesn’t look like it to me,  but then He reminds me that I need to be trusting Him, and as I do- the peace returns. =)

2-       He has it all planned out and he goes on to explain- plans to take care of us, and NOT to abandon us. That’s HUGE, to me, anyway. He’s always with us… he even reminds us later in Hebrews 13:5, the latter half “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” Then verse 6 goes on to say “So we may BODLY say: “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me!” If I can just remember that a little more often- it would help; but when I forget He is faithful to remind me. Then back to Jeremiah the last part of that verse…

3-       He also has plans to give us the future we hope for.

He plans to give us the future we hope for!

We know that he wants to give us the desires of our heart, according to Psalm 37:4 – Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart.

Who gives us the dreams, the desires?

Philippians 2:13- “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.”

God plants those dreams in our heart- God helps us to want to do what He wants us to do.

 

Okay- so we started off talking about the Father’s love… @_@

 

I am so grateful for His love- he loved me in my mess, He loved me enough to provide THE way for me to be with him for eternity. That way was provided as a gift- free of charge, for us- yet it cost one their life.

When we come to the Lord, we are not coming to a program- we are coming to a person.

He was seeking you first, but there was something built into your human fabric that caused you to respond. You were looking for warmth, for love, for fulfillment. You were looking for relationship, and for an identity beyond existence.

You were not looking for an institution, or a somewhere- you were looking for a Someone!

When we come to the Lord- we get SO much. We get a Father, we get a Husband and a new family.

Today is Father’s day, so I was thinking of the Father’s love- it’s amazing to me, how our Heavenly Father, or Daddy sees each one of us in our mess and loved us knowing all that we were going to do before coming to Him in surrender.

I was reading my Bible a while ago – and this verse was in my reading… it keeps coming back to me-

Zephaniah 3: 17 “The Lord your God in your midst, the Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

 

The part that hit me when I read it was “He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.”

 

I get two different pictures with this part… “He will quiet you with His love,” I see a parent with an upset child- speaking softly, comforting them with soft taps on the child’s back; maybe walking with a bounce (what we used to call the chicken walk) to comfort and just loving the baby.

 

 

Then the latter part, “He will rejoice over you with singing.” I know this sounds a bit cheesy- but most of us have watched at least one musical in our time. I have watched many of them, and quite a few of those, I have watched multiple times.

This part totally makes me think of a scene from a musical where the hero and the heroine are together and all of a sudden the hero starts singing a love song to the heroine.

I can imagine our Bridegroom, the Divine Romancer, serenading His bride.

He loves it when we sing back to him (worship). Look at verses 14-15

“Sing, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! The Lord has taken away your judgments; He has cast out your enemy. The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall see disaster no more!”

WOW!

Sounds like a reason to rejoice and sing to me!

1-        My Father loves me and comforts me with His love

2-       My Bridegroom- sings over me AND He is here, He has cast out my enemy!

 

Thank you, dear Father for your love that is all knowing, yet loves each one of us! Thank you, for your love that comforts us when we need it, and gives us the dreams that you place in our hearts to pursue. Help us to spend time in your presence, helps us to pour our love out on you. Help us to be ever so keenly aware of your presence in our midst, and help us to fully rejoice over the deliverance you have brought to each one of us! Amen

May 18, 2012 Hunger for God’s Presence, part 2 May 19, 2012

I am continuing some thoughts on praise and worship….

Moses set up the tabernacle, according to the directions God gave him, because God wanted to live among His people. If you read the passages in Exodus where the building of the Tabernacle is described, God said he wanted to “dwell among them.” (Exodus 25: 8) Hebrews 8: 5-6 says “They serve in a system of worship that is only a copy, a shadow of the real one in heaven. For when Moses was getting ready to build the Tabernacle, God gave him this warning; “Be sure that you make everything according to the pattern I have shown you here on the mountain.” But now Jesus, our High Priest, has been given a ministry that is far superior to the old priesthood, for he is the one who mediates for us a far better covenant with God, based on better promises.”

When Jesus died on the cross, and gave up the ghost, the veil was torn giving us passage to the Presence of the Lord. The Holy of Holies was only allowed to be entered by a priest once a year, before Jesus gave up the ghost. Now, because of the price he paid for us, after we accept his free gift of salvation, we can enter into His presence, we can “boldly come before the Throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in the time of need.” (Hebrews 4:16) Reading it in the Message Translation- “So let’s walk right up to him and get what he is so ready to give. Take the mercy, accept the help.” He wants us to come to Him!

The way to the Holy of Holies is important… First of all the Tabernacle was not necessarily the prettiest thing. Don’t let that stop you from entering in. That is just the first of many distractions that we need to press through to get there.

We all start by entering at the Outer Court- the key to get there is Thanksgiving. (Psalm 100: 4) “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise; be thankful until him, and bless his name.” In the Old Testament, the outer court is where the people were allowed to enter. Even on the days that you think everything is going wrong, nothing is right and you have absolutely NOTHING to be grateful for… there are at least 3 things that never change and you can always be grateful for…

1) God is ALWAYS good

2) His love and mercy are everlasting

3) His kindness, faithfulness and truth endure to all generations (Psalm 118:1 speaks to all of the attributes)

Don’t focus on your feelings or situations, focus on these unchanging, eternal aspects of God’s nature and His dealings with us.

May God bless you and continue to deepen your hunger for Him, for the Bible says.”Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they SHALL be filled.” Matthew 5:6

May our cups overflow!

May 7, 2012 Hunger for God’s Presence May 8, 2012

‘As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. ” – Psalm 42: 1

The last couple of days, I have noticed that I keep going to the refrigerator looking for what will satisfy. Finally, I realize while standing in front of it, that nothing in there will satisfy. Why? I am hungry, but NOT for food- I want more of God. I am hungry for the presence of my Father!

So- how do you increase your hunger? Well, when I talk about food it makes me hungry. Sometimes, so hungry that I have to go get whatever I am talking about. So,  the more I read the Word, the more I talk about the Lord, the more I just want to be with Him. Then, there are times that you just have to fast- whether it is from food OR from so many inputs in your daily life… from television, to radio, to something that is too close to you heart. Make room for that hunger to grow.

I want my relationship with my Father to be deeper each day. I want to know that I am spending more time in deeper levels of His presence each day.

Luke 6:21- “Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be filled.”- NKJV

That is a wonderful promise. If we hunger, we will be filled!

Determine that today is the day with the smallest amount of God’s presence you will every have again. Don’t try to live in the past- while what God has done for you is awesome and needs to be remembered; but don’t camp out there.

1 Corinthians 1:9 says “God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”  He has called us to fellowship with His Son! WOW!!!

You have heard people speak about others “auras” or how someone can be like a lead balloon at a party and just bring all the others in the room, either that or they will bring they lighten up the room when they walk in. So, the more you fellowship with the Lord, the more we are in His presence, the more we’ll have His joy and others will know that there is something different about us. They will want to know what it is.

“You will show me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”  Psalm 16: 11

April 29, 2012 Living a Life of Worship April 30, 2012

All day today- from earlier this morning until even now- I have been hearing bits and pieces of Psalm 100.

 A Psalm of Thanksgiving. 

¹ Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands! ² Serve the Lord with gladness; Come before His presence with singing. ³ Know that the Lord, He is God; It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. ⁴ Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name. ⁵ For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting, And His truth endures to all generations. 

This is one of the first Psalms I ever memorized. I know that it gives a pattern for entering into His presence… “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise…” 

Praise and worship is not just the song service in your church service. It has to do with God and His presence. It’s about a daily relationship. Praising God in your church services is wonderful, but don’t leave it there… there is SO much more.

Time for praise and worship is not about me and my problems. It’s meant to focus on God. LIft up your eyes! Try not to get used to the songs you sing- shake yourself and mean every word you sing!

 

Psalm 95:1-6 in the Message translation stirs praises in my heart!

“Come, let’s shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let’s march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns! And why? Because God is the best, High King over all the gods. In one hand he holds deep caves and caverns, in the other hand grasps the high mountains. He made Ocean- he owns it! He hands sculpted Earth! So come, let us worship; bow before him, on your knees before God, who made us! Oh yes, he’s our God, and we’re the people he pastures, the flock he feeds.”

 

I am SO hungry for the Lord and for his presence! I am looking forward to growing deeper in my relationship with my Father. He is an amazing, wonderful, caring, loving Father that wants the best for His children, and just wants us to know He loves us just the way we are!

January 1, 2012 January 2, 2012

So, today is the first day of the new year! We had a sweet service last night, that we ended early enough so we could get our sleep and come to service this morning.

The service last night was very sweet!  The Lord’s presence was wonderful and then we had our two services today, the worship this morning was incredible. God’s presence was amazing! The message this morning was encouraging and inspiring. We need to keep our #1 priority loving on God! He so enjoys us coming to Him no matter our mood. He wants us to simply come to Him and spend time with Him. He wants us to come to Him if we are doing good or if we’ve messed up. He loves us no matter what we’re going through.

Last night it was an encouragement to keep going, don’t let failure knock you down and keep you out.

“Success is going from failure to failure without loosing our enthusiasm.” – Abraham Lincoln

We need to keep our minds on Jesus and go to Him with our successes and our failures! He loves us and He’s always there, when we need Him.

Loving God is worshipping Him! Worship is a way to bring joy and the Joy of the Lord is your strength! God inhabits the praises of His people, He is our strength and our Joy! 

Our services yesterday and today were an encouragement and it was a wonderful time in His presence!

Our prayer is that God will move in His love and mercy in our lives, our families, our church, our community, our county, our state and our country; to get Himself glory! May each of you have a blessed New Year and may you know God’s presence in a real way! ❤ 

God bless!

Merry Christmas 2011! December 26, 2011

Today has been a wonderful time of visiting with family and friends! We had  a  wonderful time of fellowship with those that were able to come over, today. God has SO richly blessed us in so many ways!

As we gathered, there were a few times when I couldn’t help but think “I wish Mom could be here and see this…” or even catching myself thinking I wonder when Johnny will be here, today- I know he loves the food and being with us. It was SO much fun to watch Marley open her gifts, she had a great time- and thoroughly enjoyed all the attention. =)

So, as I sit this evening and try to collect some thoughts- after the day of celebrating with loved ones, and having a lovely dinner, together; I am mostly grateful for the dear loved ones that I am privileged to know and love! I am thankful for the gift that was given to us, when God sent his only Son to  be born of a virgin- to be raised by Mary & Joseph and to learn all he did. Then, that same Son, whom the Father loved DEARLY, submitted to his Father’s will and allowed himself to be sacrificed to pay the price for MY sins! After dying the torturous death, he was buried and rose from the dead on the 3rd day, getting victory over death for ME! Then, as I am learning more and more each and every day- my wonderful, awesome, Heavenly Father loves me SO much and ENJOYS it when I come to spend time with him. He doesn’t care if I come to him happy, sad or what- He knows my heart, He knows I love Him & He (as any Dad would) loves it when his child wants to just be with Him! It’s not about how hard we “try”; it’s about loving and enjoying our Father! In experiencing that joy- will cause you to no longer enjoy doing “wrong”. You are so enjoying loving the Lord that you don’t give in to the temptations to do wrong as often. The transformation process never ends, here; we will be forever changing from Glory to Glory!

Lord Jesus, you are changing me day by day into Your likeness. There are things that used to be obstacles to me that no longer appeal to me. All I want is YOU, and the wonder of Your presence! Allow me to carry that presence and reflect Your glory and passion, where ever I go. Thank you, Lord!

December 23, 2011 December 24, 2011

So, here we are- the eve before Christmas Eve, and I sit and meditate on the reason I celebrate “Christmas”. I know, that according to some, that December 25th is not Jesus’ real birthdate; but is that really worth an argument? We have President’s Day, to celebrate Washington’s and Lincoln’s birthday on a day other than their birthdate; and I am sure that there are a few other “holidays” to celebrate someone’s birthday, that may not be the actual date.

I have been in church most of my life, and have heard a lot of messages on Christmas. I’ve played many different parts in the Sunday School Christmas pageants, memorized the different parts of of the Christmas Story from Luke 2, throughout my childhood. I was about 21 or 22, before I sincerely gave my life to Jesus. I was expecting my third child at that time.  I have always loved celebrating Christmas, because I love to give things to people. I love to search and pick out a gift that will bless someone- from my kids, and now my granddaughter, to my husband and other loved ones. I love to see their faces when they open the gift, and I genuinely want each gift to be a blessing to the receiver.

Christmas, to me, is a celebration of our Heavenly Father’s deep love for each of us! He loved each of us SO much that He caused His son to be born on Earth, in a  human form, so He could fulfill paying the price of our Salvation. He sent Jesus to be our Savior. He sent Jesus to be our example. He sent Jesus to be our Gift, because he is “I AM”. He is whatever we need, when we need it.

We have this wonderful gift of a little baby that was born, in Bethlehem. He is the perfect example of love.

I have experienced people that act so humble that they don’t want to receive anything. They “don’t need anything” or they just want to give gifts “because it’s more blessed to give than to receive”. Well, while that is true, if you can’t receive- you, in effect, cause others to loose their blessing, because if you can’t receive- others can’t give.  The Bible says “it is more blessed to give than to receive” Acts 20: 35 ; it doesn’t say that it isn’t blessed to receive. I am so glad that most of the people I know, graciously accept and enjoy (for the most part) the gifts the Lord helps me to get for them. It really brings such joy, when you can get something that is something that someone really  wants/needs.

I am SO grateful for the first Christmas gift of our Savior. Our Father set such a wonderful example giving a gift that was perfect for each one that will accept it.

My prayer for each of you is that you have a wonderful, blessed Christmas! May our Heavenly Father bless and keep you in safety as you travel & show you His amazing love and how much He genuinely cares for you!

Merry Christmas!

November 10, 2011 November 11, 2011

We’ve been going full steam ahead for some time, now. There is some HVAC work going on, to get the unit updated for the parsonage and it’s getting close to being done.

Evans and I went mid-October to Lancaster, PA, to the Global Awakening: Voice of the Apostle’s conference & it was So refreshing and we learned a lot! It was SO much teaching to take in, but we got the DVD’s so we can try to glean more of what we heard, and share it with the congregation.

It is SO important to know that we are God’s children. He is our Daddy and loves us unconditionally. We have been adopted into His family, and He wants to develop that relationship with us and be close to His children. We need to get to know Him as our Daddy, and learn to come to Him at all times. Not just when we need something. Remember how it feels as a parent to have your kids only come to you, asking for something. It’s nice to have them come to say “I love you,” and “I just want to hang out with you for a while.”  Well, God likes it when we come to just love on and hang out with Him, too!

 

Take the time today, and everyday to love on your wonderful heavenly Father and spend time with Him!